High chair strap safety release

ABSTRACT

A high chair strap safety release device. The high chair strap safety release device may include a main buckle unit, a connector, and at least one buckle head attached to at least one safety strap. The main buckle unit may include a casing, a locking mechanism, a release mechanism and a release mechanism trigger. The release mechanism trigger may be triggered by an emergency release button.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/665,588, filed Jun. 28, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to safety releases and, more particularly, to high chair strap safety releases so that a child may be removed quickly.

During feedings, some young children begin to choke or gag and need to be extracted from their high chair quickly. Currently, standard safety straps on high chairs have shoulder straps that one must deal with when one needs to remove their child quickly. Situations where this need for quick child removal might occur would include cases of high stress or in emergency situations. One must also deal with extracting the child's limbs from under the straps individually which takes up time.

As can be seen, there is a need for a high chair strap safety release device that will allow for quick release of a child when sitting in a high chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a high chair strap safety release device comprises; a high chair comprising a seat having a front side and a rear side; a main buckle unit comprising a casing having an outside surface and an internal housing, wherein the casing comprises at least one buckle opening formed on the outside surface leading to the internal housing; a locking mechanism and a release mechanism within the internal housing of the casing; a release mechanism trigger operatively connected to the release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism trigger activates the release mechanism; a connector connecting the main buckle unit to the rear side of the high chair; and at least one safety strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a buckle head and the second end is attached to the high chair, wherein the buckle head is releasably attachable to the main buckle unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of constructing a high chair safety release device comprises providing a high chair comprising a seat having a front and a rear side; providing a main buckle unit comprising a casing having an outside surface and an internal housing, wherein the casing comprises at least one buckle opening formed on the outside surface leading to the internal housing, a locking mechanism and a release mechanism within the internal housing of the casing, a release mechanism trigger operatively connected to the release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism trigger activates the release mechanism; connecting the main buckle unit to the rear side of the high chair; providing at least one safety strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a buckle head; attaching the second end of the at least one safety strap to the front side of the high chair; and releasably attaching the buckle head to the main buckle unit.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with straps released;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with straps connected; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a high chair strap safety release device. The high chair strap safety release device may include a main buckle unit, a connector, and at least one buckle head attached to at least one safety strap. The main buckle unit may include a casing, a locking mechanism, a release mechanism and a release mechanism trigger. The release mechanism trigger may be triggered by an emergency release button.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, the high chair safety release device may include a main buckle unit 42. The main buckle unit 42 may include a casing 10. In certain embodiments, the casing 10 has a square shape. However, the casing 10 may be any shape as long as the shape facilitates a secure connection. The casing 10 may have an outside surface such as of a plurality of side edges 11, a front portion, a rear portion and may have an internal housing. In certain embodiments, the casing 10 may include at least one buckle opening 12, 13, 14, 15 such as a first buckle opening 12 along at least one of the plurality of side edges 11. For example, the casing 10 may include a first buckle opening 12, a second buckle opening 13, a third buckle opening 14, and a fourth buckle opening 15.

In certain embodiments, the casing 10 may include a locking mechanism 16. The locking mechanism 16 may be within the internal housing of the casing 10. The locking mechanism 16 may secure the buckle head 31 within the casing 10 when the buckle head 31 is inserted into the at least one buckle opening 12, 13, 14, 15. In certain embodiments, the casing 10 may include a release mechanism 17. The release mechanism 17 may be within the internal housing of the casing 10. The release mechanism 17 may unlock the buckle head 31 from the locking mechanism 16, and therefore a user may remove the buckle head 31 from the at least one buckle opening 12, 13, 14, 15.

In certain embodiments, the casing 10 may include an external release mechanism trigger. The external release mechanism trigger may be operatively connected to the release mechanism 17 and may activate the release mechanism 17. The external release mechanism trigger may be accessed through the front portion of the casing 10. In certain embodiments, an emergency release button 21 may be attached to the external release mechanism extended out from the front portion of the casing 10. The emergency release button 21 may be attached by screws, glue, pins holding them in place, and the like. The emergency release button 21 may make it easier to trigger the external release mechanism trigger. In certain embodiments, the emergency release button 21 may have a circular shape with a rounded outward side. However, the emergency release button 21 may be any shape as long as the shape facilitates the triggering of the external release mechanism trigger.

In certain embodiments, a safety cover 40 that is detachable may be positioned over the emergency release button 21 to prevent accidental activation of the present invention. The safety cover 40 may be made out of a polymer, such as plastic and the like or some other material that may be able to deter false triggers as intended. The safety cover 40 may have an opening side and a rim side. The safety cover 40 may have a tension lock on the opening side to help prevent accidental opening from a child. The rim side of the safety cover 40 may be attached to the front portion of the casing 10.

At least one safety strap 30 may include a first end and a second end. The buckle head 31 may be attached to the first end and the safety strap 30 may be attached to a high chair 50 at the second end. The high chair 50 may include a seat with a front side and a rear side. In certain embodiments, the main buckle unit 42 may be mounted to the rear side of the high chair 50. The seat of the high chair 50 may further include at least one opening 49. In certain embodiments, the second end of the safety strap 30 may be attached to the front side of the seat, and the safety strap 30 may run through the at least one opening 49 and may thereby buckle into the main buckle unit 42. In certain embodiments, four safety straps 30 and four buckle heads 31 are used.

In certain embodiments, a connector 52 having a front and a rear, may be used to connect the main buckle unit 42 to the rear side of the high chair 50. The front of the connector 52 attaches to the rear portion of the casing 10 of the main buckle unit 42 and the rear of the connector 52 attaches to the rear side of the high chair 50. The connector 52 may be a screw, bolt, glue or another method of attachment used in manufacturing to be affixed to the high chair 50. In alternate embodiments, a connector encasing 51 comprising a front section and a rear section may enclose the connector 52 and stabilize the main buckle unit 42 by providing additional hard material between the main buckle unit 42 and the high chair 50. The connector encasing 51 may take up any excess room between the high chair 50 and the main buckle unit 42 so that it may securely fit on the back of a high chair 50 with enough support so as to be strong and stable when triggered. The connector encasing 51 may be made from a polymer, such as a hard plastic and the like.

As mentioned above, the main buckle unit may be mounted to a seat of a high chair. The connector may attach to the rear side of the high chair and to the rear portion of the casing of the main buckle unit. The main buckle unit casing contains buckle openings where the buckle heads on each safety strap enter the main buckle unit and are locked into the internal locking mechanism. An external release mechanism trigger on the main buckle unit may be operatively connected to the release mechanism internal to the housing. When the external release mechanism trigger is depressed, it makes contact with the release mechanism which releases the buckles from the lock and allows the straps to be freed from the high chair. An emergency release button may extend over the external release mechanism trigger, thereby making it easier to trigger the external release mechanism. A safety cover may be connected to the main buckle unit and cover the emergency release button.

A method of using a high chair strap safety release device may include the following. In the event of an emergency, the individual around the child may remove the tray from the high chair, open the plastic safety cover, if attached, and press the emergency release button, if attached. The pressing of the emergency release button may trigger the external release mechanism trigger through the connection which in turn may trigger the internal release mechanism which may release the buckles and safety straps from the buckle openings in the casing of the main buckle unit. The safety straps may then slide through the opening in the back of the high chair and the child may be freed from the high chair. The individual may then lift the child from the high chair without having to remove the traps from around the child's arms and lap.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A high chair strap safety release device comprising: a high chair comprising a seat having a front side and a rear side; a main buckle unit comprising: a casing having an outside surface and an internal housing, wherein the casing comprises at least one buckle opening formed on the outside surface leading to the internal housing; a locking mechanism and a release mechanism within the internal housing of the casing; a release mechanism trigger operatively connected to the release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism trigger activates the release mechanism; a connector connecting the main buckle unit to the rear side of the high chair; and at least one safety strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a buckle head and the second end is attached to the high chair, wherein the buckle head is releasably attachable to the main buckle unit.
 2. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the at least one buckle head comprises a plurality of buckle heads.
 3. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the at least one buckle head comprises four buckle heads.
 4. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the at least one safety strap comprises a plurality of safety straps.
 5. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the at least one safety strap comprises four safety straps.
 6. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the casing is square shaped.
 7. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, further comprising a connector encasing comprising a front section and a rear section, wherein the front section of the connector encasing attaches to the rear portion of the casing of the main buckle unit, and the rear section of the connector casing attaches to the rear side of the high chair, enclosing the connector.
 8. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the seat of the high chair may further comprise at least one opening.
 9. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, wherein the connector is a screw.
 10. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 1, further comprising an emergency release button connected to the release mechanism trigger.
 11. The high chair strap safety release device of claim 10, further comprising a safety cover that encloses the emergency release button.
 12. A method of constructing a high chair safety release device comprising the steps of: providing a high chair comprising a seat having a front and a rear side; providing a main buckle unit comprising a casing having an outside surface and an internal housing, wherein the casing comprises at least one buckle opening formed on the outside surface leading to the internal housing, a locking mechanism and a release mechanism within the internal housing of the casing, a release mechanism trigger operatively connected to the release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism trigger activates the release mechanism; connecting the main buckle unit to the rear side of the high chair; providing at least one safety strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a buckle head; attaching the second end of the at least one safety strap to the front side of the high chair; and releasably attaching the buckle head to the main buckle unit. 